Protests Erupt as Venezuelan Families Decry US Deportations to El Salvador
Venezuelan families protested U.S. deportations, claiming deception regarding their relatives’ destination. Over 200 migrants were sent to a Salvadoran prison under a decree by President Trump, leading to legal challenges and public outcry. Families assert many deportees were misled and demand their return.
On March 22, relatives of Venezuelan migrants protested against U.S. deportations, expressing that they felt “deceived” as they believed the individuals were being returned to Venezuela. More than 200 Venezuelans were unexpectedly sent to a maximum security prison in El Salvador after being forcibly flown there on March 16 under President Donald Trump’s wartime powers, which were enacted to expel alleged gang members.
The deportation has sparked a legal dispute in Washington, following an attempt by a judge to block the deportation flights, while outrage has surfaced in Venezuela. The Trump administration claims these deportees were identified as members of the Tren de Aragua gang or, at the very least, illegal immigrants.
However, families argue that many of those deported were not criminals and had been misled into surrendering. Gladys Coromoto Rojas, grandmother of deportee Kenlyn Rodriguez, expressed disbelief, asking, “How come so many people said they were coming to Venezuela and today they are in El Salvador?” Families report that they were given false information about the destination of their loved ones prior to their deportation.
The family of another deportee, Maikel Rojas Olivera, recounted that he had been communicating with them about returning home to Venezuela on March 22, only to end up in El Salvador instead. They stated, “We demand that they bring all those innocent boys from El Salvador to their country.”
In response, the Venezuelan government has labeled this situation a kidnapping and has taken steps to hire a law firm to facilitate the return of the migrants to Venezuela, further intensifying the controversy surrounding these deportations.
The protests by Venezuelan families highlight a significant humanitarian concern regarding the U.S. deportation of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. Claims of misinformation and wrongful deportations underscore the complexities surrounding immigration and legal representation for those involved. The Venezuelan government’s response indicates ongoing diplomatic tensions and a need for legal intervention for the return of these individuals.
Original Source: www.hurriyetdailynews.com
